Tag: heart event

PREPARATION

We had been in line for a few minutes when the guy in front of us asked, “Can you hold my place in line? I’ll be right back.”

“Sure,” I responded. But he never came back; do I keep holding his place?

I think he discovered he was in the wrong line. I’ve done that, waited in the wrong line for way too much time. How about you?

This last Sunday Tim announced, “I’ve been waiting in the wrong line all my life?”

So, I surprised him, I reached over and pushed him out of line. It was the beginning of a whack-him-up-the-side-of-the-head. Then, we talked about taking a side trip out-of-line.

God still uses “whacks.” Remember the time He spoke from Heaven about His Son… He encouraged the followers to listen. Out of a cloud God said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:7-8 NIV

“Suddenly’s” are holy whacks.

Ok, it’s a little bizarre, but every-now-and-then we all need a little “suddenly,” a little “whack up the side of the head.”

God didn’t invent the line and he doesn’t intend for you to live in one. I think He gives us lines, so He can use His storehouse of “suddenly’s.” In order for us to realize the wonder of life, He ordains a few of those “suddenly” times. These unforeseen challenges, moral crises, unexpected health events, and the occasional push from a friend knock us out of line.

And, when you get out of line it’s easier to see Jesus.

INSPIRATION

“In 2000,” Gary began, “I was chairman of the American Heart Association of Texas. We were involved in a national campaign to place Public Access Automated External Defibrillators or AED’s in airports. We had fought through all kinds of resistance just to get the program launched. The key point is that anyone can operate the AED’s. No special training is needed.”

Then on March 19th of 2001 Gary was at the Austin Airport passing through the security checkpoint when he collapsed. The newspaper reported it this way: ‘the police responded and determined that the 53-year-old was in cardiac arrest. A public access Automated External Defibrillator was attached to the subject and a shock was delivered. CPR was continued with the assistance of Airport Fire Rescue and the Austin Fire Department. EMS arrived and administered advanced life support. The subject was transported to Breckenridge hospital where he was in stable condition.’”

The very Defibrillator he had lobbied to place in that Airport only weeks before, saved Gary’s life.

The story continues. Gary put it this way, “That event turned my life around. God ‘whacked me up the side of the head’ and I got the message. I turned my life, what’s left of it, over to him. I figure He’s got more surprises on His agenda, or more things for me to do, or more people that need to hear my story of hope.”

MOTIVATION

Are you comfortable just waiting and wondering? Are you more than a little bored with it all?

Time far a “whack up the side of the head?” Or, will God use you to be the whacker He needs for someone else? In both cases, you will suddenly turn around and find you are face to face with Jesus.